Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

M. J. BIDDER 8v V; HARTMANN.

WIRE STRETOHE R.

No. 446,790. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

m mm alenii 6 H Mhtmaooeo UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

MATHIAS J. BIDDER AND VALENTINE HARTMANN, OF GERMANTOIVN, NEBRASKA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,790, dated February 17, 1891. Application filed November 29, 1890. Serial No. 373,032. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MATHIAS J. BIDDER and VALENTINE HARTMANN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Germantown, in thecounty of Seward and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire-Stretchers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective device, whereby the Wires can be stretched between the posts or joined together when severed; and it consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a wire-stretcher constructed in accordance with our invention, showing the same applied in position. for stretching a wire between two posts. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the application of our invention in joining wires between the posts, and Fig. 3 is a plan view.

A refers to the ratchet-bar, which is provided with upturned ends A and A which are provided with cam-levers a and M, the serrated faces of which move over projecting lugs or pins 0. a. The upper edge of the bar A is provided with ratchet-teeth, as shown, and upon the under side thereof slides a bar 13, held in place by loops or straps b b. This sliding bar has one end apertured for attachment thereto of a chain or flexible connection 0, which is made fast to one of the fenceposts. The opposite end of the sliding bar is bent outwardly and upwardly, and is provided with a cam-lever B, adapted to move over the projecting lug b beneath the same. This sliding bar carries adjacent to its upturned end -a bail D, which is adapted to engage the teeth in the bar A, and upon this bar between the loops 1) b is pivoted the operating-lever E, carrying a pawl c.

It willbe observed by reference to the drawings that the construction of this device is extremely simple and that it can be made by an ordinary mechanic.

In practice we prefer to provide the ratchetteeth with flattened points, as shown, so that the loops b b can rest upon two or more of the teeth and the sliding movement of the same will not be interfered with.

In stretching a wire on the fence the chain 0 is made fast to one of the intermediate fence-posts, the wire having previously been secured to the end post. The device is then placed upon the wire and the cams a and B thrown to be out of engagement with the wire, but positioned to support the device thereon, while the cam-lever a is thrown to grip the wire securely, and as the lever E is reciprocated the ratchet-bar A. will be moved and held by the bail D, and when the wire has been sufficiently stretched it can be secured to the post by a staple and the device moved to the next post. In cases where the fence has been constructed and the wires broken the device is secured to an intermediate post, as hereinbefore described, the cam-lever a thrown down, the lever a thrown to grip one of the ends of the broken wire, and the lever B thrown to engage the other end, and as the lever E is reciprocated the ends of the wires will be brought together in order that they may be readily joined.

In a device constructed as hereinbefore do- 1. In a wire-stretcher, the combination,

with a ratchet-bar having upturned ends which carry means for securing the wire thereto, of a sliding bar carrying a lever and pawl and a locking-bail, one end of said sliding bar being upturned and provided with wire-clamping means, the opposite end havinga flexible connection for securing the same to a post, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a wire-stretcher, of a bar A, having ratchet-teeth and upturned ends with offsets, and cams located above said offsets, and a sliding bar secured to the ratchet-bar by means of loops and provided with a loeltingbail, with a pivoted lever earrying a pawl for engaging the ratchet-teeth, and with wire-clamping means upon its upturned end, the opposite end thereof being adapted to be secured to a post, substantially as set forth.

b. In a wire-fence tightener, the combination of a bar A, having a series of rate-hetteeth with flattened points and upturned ends A and A having offsets, above whieh are pivoted eam-levers, with a sliding bar 13, having loops 7) II, which embrace the bar A, a lever carrying a pawl e, a bail l), adapted to engage the ratchet-teeth, the said sliding bar being provided with an upturned end having an offset 11, and clamp-lever l, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MA'lIllAS J. RIDDER. VALENTINE llAltlM AN N.

\Vitnesses:

R. F. SEEMANN, ('3. BIEL. 

